Apparatus for treating ores



A. RYDBR. -Apparadsusfor Treating Oras. i No, 239,300. Patented March 22,1881.

f1-yf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW RYDER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

`APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,300, dated March 22, 1881.

Application led July 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW RYDER, of Oakland, Alameda county, State of Califor= nia, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Treating Ores; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention.

My invention has reference to apparatus for reducing ores in which the `ore, while in a heated state, is dumpedsuddenly into a liquid or chemical solution for the purpose of disintegrating the ore and separating the particles preparatory `to a-malgamation.

' In operating this apparatus the ore is first heated in such ordinary-sized particles as are easily handled without subjecting it to any crushing` Jr pulverizing action. When it is thoroughly heated through it is dumped suddenly into a liquid bath, either ot' water or some chemical solution, which causes it to disintegrate, or, rather, to be reduced to a 'riable condition, so that it can be easily crushed an'd the particles separated from each other. This method of treating.;- 'ores was iirst described and claimed by Dr. J. C. Ayer in his Letters l Patents No. 46,619. 46,620, and 46,621, dated March 7, 1865.

-` l My invention consists ot' an apparatus i'or charging the liquid or solution with electricity while the ore is being subjected to this bath i treatment, so that as soon as Vthe disintegrationconsequent on plunging the heated ore into the bath takes place each metallic particle will be subjected to the action of the elec- `tric currents, which will strip it ot' any surrounding envelope or coating that would otherwiseprevent amalgamation.

It is well known that the sudden immersion of heated ore in aliqnid bath or solution generates electricity; but the quan tityis not usually sufficient to produce the required energy; and, ,even it' it were sufficient in quantity, no means have ever been devised for retaining the electricity in the vessel under such circumstances. tlhe vessel in which the liquid `tor solution is t 1contained is generally made of metahand connected with the ground so that the electricity passes oft' into the earth before any benefit han be derived from it. tricity, I insulate the tank or vessel from the 'earth if it is made oli-metal; or I can use tanks or vessels made of some non-conducting substance or material.

` My invention therefore consists in subjecting the ore,while in a heated state, to the com- To utilize this elecbined action of a liquid bath and electricity, whether the electricity be generated in the liquid or solution by the immersion of the ore or generated outside the. tank and introduced through conductors.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view ot' my apparatus in side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. t

Let A represent the tank or vessel in which the cold liquid or solution is contained. 1t' this tank or vessel is made of metal, and it' I intend to depend only on the electricity generated by the immersion of the heated ore in the liquid or solution, I mount i-t upon a frame or platform, B, that is made ot' a non-conducting substance or material, great care being taken that no metallic conductors connect `it with the earth. l then dump the heated ore in the liquid or solution, and the electricity is retained in the vessel; but a tank made of earthenware, wood, or other non-conducting material can be used. It' I wish to produce a more energetic electric action than the submersion ofthe ore in the liquid or solution produces, l useya galvanic battery or dynamoelectric geiierator, C, and lead the two wires d c into the solution and connect them with copper plates j' j', which are so placed that the ore, in descending through the liquid or solution, will be compelled to pass between the edges of the plates. During this passage of the particles between the edges of the plates they will be shocked by the electric current. This will separate the metallic particles from the gangue and strip them ot" any casing or envelope that may surround them, so that they will amalgamate readily when brought in contact with mercury.

Having thus described my invention, what I cla-im, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- In an apparatus for disintegrating ores preparatory to amalgamation, the insulated. vessel or non-conductor of electricity, provided with a metallic or plated hopper, in combination with an electrical generator or battery and conducting wire or wires, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my ,hand and seal.

ANDREW RYDER. [L s.]

Y VWitnesses:

W. FLOYD DUGKETT, D. B. LAWLER.

IOO, 

